JP4259012B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to gaming machines represented by pachinko machines and slot machines.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there is a pachinko machine as a representative example of a gaming machine. This pachinko machine is provided with a payout device that is provided with a plurality of winning holes in the game area of the game board and pays out predetermined winning balls based on the winning of balls in these winning holes. In addition, a sensor is provided in the pachinko machine for detecting a prize ball. The prize ball paid out by the payout device is detected by the sensor, and the detected prize ball is used as a prize ball signal as a gaming machine. It is output to an external device such as a management device.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional pachinko machine, the prize ball paid out from the payout device is detected, and the detected prize ball is output as a prize ball signal to the gaming machine management apparatus. Therefore, the gaming machine management apparatus outputs from the pachinko machine. There is a problem that it is impossible to confirm whether or not the received prize ball signal actually corresponds to a prize at the winning opening, and the gaming machine management device cannot grasp accurate game information. It was.
For example, in a conventional gaming machine with a backup function, the number of game media payout information output from the gaming machine to the outside (for example, a gaming machine management device) is a game media payout instruction from the main control means to the payout control means. Is output, and the main control means or the payout control means outputs the payout number information to the outside of the gaming machine after the payout control means executes a predetermined number of payouts of game media based on the payout instruction. The gaming machine management device counts how many game media are paid out from the gaming machine in a predetermined time (for example, 1 hour), and the game hall manager sets the gaming machine based on the counting result. Had changed. A gaming machine equipped with a backup means has a gaming medium to be paid out even if the gaming medium has been paid out for some reason (for example, the ball is clogged, the lower plate is full, or the ball tank is full). (For example, 1 hour prize ball or 1000 balls prize ball), it was possible to pay out the stored game media at once. However, in such a case, the gaming machine management device counts the number of game media paid out from the payout control unit, so that the number of game media payouts collected in the gaming machine management device is obtained from the main control unit. It is output to the gaming machine management device at a timing different from the timing at which the payout instruction is output. Therefore, the gaming machine management apparatus adds up the number of game media at an inappropriate timing, and there is a problem that it is impossible to accurately grasp the control contents of the game.
[0004]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine capable of grasping accurate gaming information in an external device such as a gaming machine management device.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve this object, a gaming machine according to claim 1 is configured to control a game in which a winning slot for winning a gaming medium, a switch for detecting a gaming medium winning in the winning slot, and the switch are connected. Main control means for performing, and payout control means for paying out game media having a predetermined value based on a payout instruction output from the main control means, and the main control means When it is detected by the switch that a medium has won, to the payout control means Corresponding to the number of prize balls based on winning of the game media Output a withdrawal instruction and Corresponding to the number of prize balls When a payout instruction is output, the payout instruction is issued. Corresponding to the number of prize balls The game media payout number information is output to the outside of the gaming machine, and the payout control means is connected to the main control means. Corresponding to the number of prize balls When a payout instruction is received, payout is made according to the received payout instruction separately from the output of the payout quantity information. Corresponding to the number of prize balls The game media payout number information is output to the outside of the gaming machine.
Claim 2 The gaming machine described is the claim 1 Record The above-mentioned gaming machine includes storage means for storing the number of game media to be paid out, and backup means for holding the contents of the storage means even after the power is turned off. Based on the contents of the storage means, the game medium is paid out when the power is turned on.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, a pachinko machine that is a kind of a ball game machine, in particular, a first type pachinko game machine will be described as an example of the game machine. Note that it is naturally possible to use the present invention for the third kind pachinko gaming machine and other gaming machines.
[0007]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a game board of a pachinko machine P according to the present embodiment. Around the game board 1, there are provided a plurality of winning holes 2 through which 6 to 15 balls are paid out when the balls are awarded. In the center of the game board 1, a liquid crystal display (hereinafter simply referred to as “LCD”) 3 for displaying symbols as a plurality of types of identification information is provided. The display screen of the LCD 3 is divided into three in the horizontal direction. In each of the three divided display areas, a variable display of symbols is performed while scrolling from right to left in the horizontal direction.
[0008]
Below the LCD 3, a symbol operating port (first type starting port) 4 is provided, and a ball passes through the symbol operating port 4 (the first type starting port switch 22 described later in FIG. 2 detects the ball). Then, the above-described variable display on the LCD 3 is started. Below the symbol operating port 4, a specific winning port (large winning port) 5 is provided. This specific winning opening 5 is a big hit when the display result after the fluctuation of the LCD 3 coincides with one of the predetermined symbol combinations, and a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds elapses) so that the ball is easy to win. (Or until 10 balls have been won).
[0009]
A V zone 5a is provided in the specific winning opening 5, and a ball passes through the V zone 5a while the specific winning opening 5 is opened (the V count switch 23 described later in FIG. 2 detects the ball). Then, after the continuation right is established and the specific winning opening 5 is closed, the specific winning opening 5 is opened again for a predetermined time (or until a predetermined number of balls win the specific winning opening 5). The opening / closing operation of the specific winning opening 5 can be repeated up to 16 times (16 rounds), and the state in which the opening / closing operation can be performed is a state in which a so-called predetermined game value is given (special game state). is there.
[0010]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine P and the gaming machine management device (external management device) 50. In particular, the main control board C that controls the gaming content of the pachinko machine P, and the award FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a payout control board H that controls payout of balls and balls and a gaming machine management device 50 that manages sales data of pachinko machines P, the number of prize balls to be paid out, and the like. .
[0011]
The main control board C of the pachinko machine P is used as an MPU 11 that is an arithmetic unit, a ROM area 12 that stores various control programs executed on the MPU 11 and executes fixed value data, and a work memory. RAM 13 area. The programs shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 to 6 are stored in the ROM area 12 as part of the control program. The RAM area 13 is provided with a prize ball buffer 13a, a prize ball pointer 13b, a remaining prize ball number counter 13c, a management counter 13d, a transmission buffer 13e, and a backup area 13f.
[0012]
The prize ball buffer 13a is a buffer for storing the number of prize balls to be paid out when a ball driven into the game board 1 wins a plurality of winning holes 2 and the like. Since the number of winning balls to be paid out is stored in the winning ball buffer 13a for each winning ball, the winning ball buffer 13a is composed of a plurality of bytes. The data on the number of prize balls stored in the prize ball buffer 13a is transmitted to the payout control board H as a prize ball command, and is erased from the prize ball buffer 13a when written to a management counter 13d described later. Specifically, after the number of prize balls stored in the 0th prize ball buffer 13a is transmitted to the payout control board H and written to the management counter 13d, the value of the first and later prize ball buffers 13a is set to the smaller address side. By shifting one byte at a time, the value of the 0th prize ball buffer 13a is erased.
[0013]
Here, the prize ball command is a command for instructing the payout control board H of the number of prize balls to be paid out, and is composed of 1 byte. Since the maximum number of winning balls for a single winning is 15 balls, when the winning ball command is composed of 1 byte, 15 types of data “01H” to “0FH” corresponding to the maximum number of winning balls Is a prize ball command. In other words, when the upper 4 bits of the command composed of 1 byte are “0”, it is determined as a prize ball command.
[0014]
The prize ball pointer 13b is a pointer indicating the position of the prize ball buffer 13a for storing the number of prize balls, and the number of prize balls to be paid out is stored in the value-th prize ball buffer 13a of the prize ball pointer 13b. The value of the prize ball pointer 13b is incremented by "1" by writing the number of prize balls in the prize ball buffer 13a, and conversely, the value of the 0th prize ball buffer 13a is transmitted to the payout control board H. “1” is subtracted.
[0015]
The remaining prize ball number counter 13c is a counter for storing the number of unpaid prize balls, and is a counter for managing the number of prize balls to be paid out by the payout control board H on the main control board C. Each time the main control board C instructs the payout control board H to pay out the prize ball, the value of the remaining prize ball counter 13c is incremented, and conversely, the payout control board H pays out the prize ball. Each time the award ball count switch 25 detects the paid out award ball, “1” is subtracted.
[0016]
The management counter 13d is a counter that stores the number of prize balls to be paid out. When the value of the management counter 13d exceeds a predetermined value (“10” or “20” in this embodiment) In addition, according to the control program stored in the ROM area 12 (signal transmission processing, see FIG. 6), one pulse or two pulses of signals corresponding to the number of prize balls for 10 balls are sent to the external output connector 18. It is configured to output. The timing at which prize ball number data is written to the management counter 13d will be described in detail in the prize ball processing flowchart of FIG.
[0017]
The transmission buffer 13e is a buffer for storing command data transmitted to the payout control board H, and is composed of 1 byte. When command data written in the transmission buffer 13e is transmitted to the payout control board H, the contents of the transmission buffer 13e are cleared to zero.
[0018]
The backup area 13f is controlled in order to return the state of the pachinko machine P to the state before the control stop when the control of the pachinko machine P is stopped due to the occurrence of an error due to ball clogging or ball breakage, or the occurrence of a power failure. This is an area for storing stack pointers, values of registers, I / O, etc. at the time of stoppage (including power failure occurrence, the same applies hereinafter). The writing to the backup area 13f is executed when the control is stopped by the NMI interrupt process (see FIG. 3). Conversely, the restoration of each value written to the backup area 13f is performed when the control is started (the power is turned on by eliminating the power failure). In the following, the same)) return processing (power recovery processing, see FIG. 4) is executed.
[0019]
The MPU 11 is connected to the input / output port 15 via a bus line 14 composed of an address bus and a data bus. The input / output port 15 is connected to the payout control board H via buffers (inverter gates) 16 and 36 and signal lines 17 whose inputs and outputs are fixed, an external output connector 18, and a plurality of normal winning switches 21. A first type start port switch 22, a V count switch 23, a 10 count switch 24, a prize ball count switch 25, and another input / output device 26 are connected to each other.
[0020]
The external output connector 18 is a connector for connecting the pachinko machine P and the gaming machine management device 50 which is an external management device. The contents of control performed on the main control board C and the payout control board H are output to the gaming machine management device 50 through the external output connector 18 as signals. The signals output from the main control board C and the payout control board H are signals to be output to the gaming machine management device 50 by making the wavelengths different (for example, the wavelength of the signal of the winning ball number data is 100 ms). The data can be made different.
[0021]
The normal winning switch 21 is a switch for detecting each ball that has won a plurality of winning holes 2 in the game board 1, and is provided near the entrance of each winning hole 2. The first type starting port switch 22 is a switch for detecting a sphere that has passed through the symbol operating port (first type starting port) 4, and is provided in the vicinity of the symbol operating port 4. When a ball is detected by any of the normal winning switches 21 or the first type start port switch 22, six paying balls are paid out by the payout control board H.
[0022]
The V count switch 23 is a switch for detecting a ball that has won a prize in the V zone 5 a in the specific prize opening (large prize opening) 5, and the 10 count switch 24 is a V zone 5 a in the specific prize opening 5. This is a switch for detecting a ball that has won a prize. When a ball is detected by the V count switch 23 or the 10 count switch 24, 15 prize balls are paid out by the payout control board H.
[0023]
The prize ball count switch 25 is a switch for detecting a prize ball paid out by a payout motor 37b, which will be described later, and is mounted on a payout unit (not shown) together with the payout motor 37b. The prize ball count switch 25 is configured to decrement “1” from the above-mentioned remaining prize ball counter 13c every time a ball is detected.
[0024]
As described above, the main control board C is connected to the payout control board H via the buffers (inverter gates) 16 and 36 and the signal line 17 whose inputs and outputs are fixed. Therefore, transmission / reception of each command such as a prize ball command between the main control board C and the payout control board H is performed only in one direction from the main control board C to the payout control board H. It cannot be performed on the control board C. The main control board C and the payout control board H are connected by eight data lines and one strobe line. When the data on the strobe line becomes active, the data is output on the eight data lines. The transmitted data is transmitted from the main control board C to the payout control board H as a command.
[0025]
The payout control board H performs payout control of prize balls and rental balls, and includes an MPU 31 that is an arithmetic unit, and a ROM area 32 that stores a control program, fixed value data, and the like that are mounted on the MPU 31 and executed. A RAM area 33 mounted on the MPU 31 and used as a work memory or the like.
[0026]
The MPU 31 is connected to the input / output port 35 by a bus line 34 composed of an address bus and a data bus. The input / output port 35 is connected to the main control board C via the buffers (inverter gates) 16 and 36 and the signal line 17 whose inputs and outputs are fixed, as well as the prize ball count switch 25, the driver circuit 37a, and the like. It is connected to another input / output device 38.
[0027]
The driver circuit 37a is a circuit for driving and rotating the payout motor 37b. When the payout motor 37b is rotated by the driver circuit 37a, a prize ball or a rental ball is paid out.
[0028]
The power supply board 40 is a board for supplying a driving voltage for the pachinko machine P, and outputs a backup voltage supply, a reset signal, a RAM clear signal, a power failure signal, and the like based on the state of the pachinko machine P. is there. The main control board C and the payout control board H are driven by a 5V drive voltage supplied from the power supply board 40. The power supply board 40 is provided with a power failure monitoring circuit 40a that is a circuit for outputting a power failure signal to the NMI terminals of the MPUs 11 and 31 of the main control board C and the payout control board H when the power is cut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. It has been.
[0029]
The power failure monitoring circuit 40a monitors the DC stable voltage of 24 volts, which is the largest voltage output from the power supply board 40, and determines that a power failure (power failure) has occurred when this voltage is less than 24 volts. And is configured to output a power failure signal. By the output of the power failure signal, the main control board C and the payout control board H recognize the occurrence of the power failure and execute the power failure process (NMI interrupt process, see FIG. 3). In addition, the power supply board 40 has a sufficient time for execution of the process at the time of power failure even after the DC stable voltage of 24 volts becomes less than 22 volts (including the waiting time of the execution timing suitable for the process at the time of power failure). The main control board C and the payout control board H can normally execute the power failure process because the control system drive voltage of 5 volts is maintained at a normal value.
[0030]
The clear switch 41 is a switch for clearing data backed up in the RAM areas 13 and 33 of the main control board C and the payout control board H, and is configured as a push button type switch. When the power of the pachinko machine P is turned on while the clear switch 41 is pressed (including power-on due to power failure cancellation), a RAM clear signal is output to the main control board C and the payout control board H, and the RAM area 13 , 33 are cleared.
[0031]
The pachinko machine P on which the main control board C and the payout control board H are mounted is connected to a gaming machine management device 50 that manages games, sales data, and the like performed in the pachinko machine P via the external output connector 18 described above. Yes. Note that the gaming machine management device 50 is connected to a plurality of pachinko machines and the like in the game hall (hall), and tabulates data related to games and the like performed by the plurality of pachinko machines.
[0032]
The gaming machine management device 50 includes an MPU 51 that is an arithmetic device, a ROM area 52 that stores various control programs and fixed value data that are executed by being installed in the MPU 51, and a work memory that is installed in the MPU 51 and used as a work memory. And a hard disk 54 that is a rewritable nonvolatile memory. The program shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 is stored in the ROM area 52 as a part of the control program. The hard disk 54 of the gaming machine management device 50 is provided with a management memory 54a that manages the number of prize balls and the gaming state of the pachinko machine P.
[0033]
The management memory 54a is a memory for managing the number of prize balls based on a signal output from the main control board C. The management memory 54a adds the number of prize balls of “10” to the memory every time a signal of the prize ball number data of one pulse is received from the main control board C via the external output connector 18. is there. Therefore, the number of prize balls to be paid out on the main control board C can be totaled.
[0034]
The MPU 51 is connected to the input / output port 56 by a bus line 55 composed of an address bus and a data bus. The input / output port 56 is connected to the external output connector 18 of the pachinko machine P, and is also connected to the hard disk 54 and the other input / output device 57 described above.
[0035]
Next, each process performed in the main control board C and the gaming machine management device 50 will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an NMI interrupt process executed by the main control board C when a power failure signal is output from the power failure monitoring circuit 40a of the power supply board 40 due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like. When the power of the pachinko machine P is cut off due to the occurrence of a power failure or the like, a power failure signal is output from the power failure monitoring circuit 40a to the NMI (Non Maskable Interrput) terminals of the MPUs 11 and 31 of the main control board C and the payout control board H. When the power failure signal is input to the NMI terminal, the MPUs 11 and 31 interrupt the control being executed and start the NMI interrupt process of FIG. For a predetermined time after the power failure signal is output, the power of the control system is supplied from the power supply board 40 so that the processing of the main control board C and the payout control board H can be executed. 3 NMI interrupt processing is executed.
[0036]
In the NMI interrupt process of FIG. 3, first, the stack pointer is written to the backup area 13f (S1), and further, the values of each register and I / O are written to the backup area 13f (S2). The state at the time of interruption is memorized. Then, other power failure processing is performed (S3), and then the processing is looped until the power is completely cut off and the processing cannot be executed.
[0037]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of start-up processing (power recovery processing) executed by the main control board C when the power of the pachinko machine P is turned on. In this process, if the backup is valid, each data stored in the backup area 13f is returned to the original state, and the game control is continued from the state before the power is turned off. On the other hand, if the backup is not valid or the clear switch 41 is pressed at power-on even when the backup is valid, an initialization process is executed.
[0038]
First, interrupts are prohibited (S11), and then a temporary stack pointer is set so as not to destroy the data stacked in the original stack area (S12). Then, it is confirmed whether or not the clear switch 41 is turned on (S13). If the clear switch 41 is turned on (S13: Yes), the process proceeds to S15 and the initialization process is executed. If the clear switch 41 is not turned on (S13: No), it is confirmed whether the backup is valid (S14). This confirmation is made based on whether or not the keyword written in a predetermined area of the RAM area 13 is correctly stored. If the keyword is stored correctly, the backup is valid. On the other hand, if the keyword is not correct, the backup data is destroyed, so the backup is not valid. If the backup is valid (S14: Yes), the process proceeds to S21, and each state of the main control board C is returned to the state before the power is turned off. On the other hand, if the backup is not valid (S14: No), the process proceeds to S15 and the initialization process is executed.
[0039]
In the initialization processing from S15, first, a normal stack pointer is set, the contents of the stack are adjusted (S15), RAM clearing and initialization processing are executed (S16), the RAM area 13 and the I / O Initialize each value such as. Thereafter, a start-up completion command is transmitted to the payout control board H in the interrupt disabled state (S17), and the fact that the main control board C has been initialized and executed is reported to the payout control board H. Since the payout control board H is lighter in processing than the main control board C, the start-up process (recovery process) ends before the main control board C. Therefore, the payout control board H can reliably receive the start-up end command transmitted from the main control board C. The main control board C permits the interruption (S18) since the payout control board H is also started up after the start-up end command is transmitted, and shifts the process to each process of S19 to control the game. Is started (S19).
[0040]
In the return processing (power recovery processing) from S21, first, the values of each register, I / O, etc. saved in the backup area 13f are read from the backup area 13f, and these data are restored to the original registers, I / O, etc. To return to the state before the power failure (before the occurrence of NMI interruption) (S21). Next, the value of the stack pointer is read from the backup area 13f and written to the stack pointer to return to the state before the power failure (before the occurrence of the NMI interrupt) (S22). After that, the interrupt is permitted (S23), the NMI interrupt is returned, the process is returned to the place where it was executed before the power is turned off, and the control is continued from the state before the power is turned off. Thereby, the power recovery process on the main control board C is completed.
[0041]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the winning ball process executed in each process (S19) of the main control board C. The winning ball process includes a winning detection process (S30) for detecting a ball that has won a prize in the V zone 5a in the plurality of winning holes 2, the symbol operating hole 4 or the specific winning hole 5, a payout command board for payout control board H, and a game. The prize ball command transmission process (S40) transmitted to the machine management device 50 and the prize ball detection process (S50) for detecting the prize ball paid out by the payout control board H are constituted. Here, a predetermined number of prize ball commands are transmitted to the payout control board H and a prize ball command is also transmitted to the gaming machine management device 50 by the prize ball command transmission process (S40).
[0042]
In the winning detection process (S30), first, it is confirmed whether or not a ball is detected by any one of the normal winning switch 21 or the first type start port switch 22 (S31). If a ball is detected by any of the switches 21 and 22 (S31: Yes), “6” is set to the value-th prize ball buffer 13a of the prize ball pointer 13b in order to pay out six prize balls. Write (S32) and add "1" to the value of the prize ball pointer 13b (S33). On the other hand, when a sphere is not detected by any of the switches 21 and 22 (S31: No), the process of S32 and S33 is skipped and the process proceeds to S34.
[0043]
In the process of S34, it is confirmed whether or not a sphere has been detected by the V count switch 23 or the 10 count switch 24 (S34). When a ball is detected by any of the switches 23 and 24 (S34: Yes), “15” is set to the value-th prize ball buffer 13a of the prize ball pointer 13b in order to pay out 15 prize balls. Write (S35), and add "1" to the value of the prize ball pointer 13b (S36). On the other hand, when a ball is not detected by any of the switches 23 and 24 (S34: No), the process of S35 and S36 is skipped, the winning detection process (S30) is terminated, and a prize ball command transmission process of S40 is performed. Migrate to
[0044]
In the prize ball command transmission process (S40), it is first checked whether or not the value of the prize ball pointer 13b is "0" (S41). If the value of the prize ball pointer 13b is not “0” (S41: No), it means that the prize ball data to be paid out is stored in the prize ball buffer 13a, and therefore the value of the 0th prize ball buffer 13a. Is set as a prize ball command, and the prize ball command is transmitted to the payout control board H (S42). After the prize ball command is transmitted, the value of the 0th prize ball buffer 13a which is the prize ball number data transmitted by the prize ball command is added to the remaining prize ball number counter 13c (S43), and the 0th prize ball The value in the buffer 13a is added to the management counter 13d (S44). After the addition to the management counter 13d, a signal transmission process for outputting the winning ball number data to the gaming machine management device 50 through the external output connector 18 is performed (S45, see FIG. 6).
[0045]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the signal transmission process (S45). By performing this signal transmission process, the number of prize balls paid out by the pachinko machine P is output to the gaming machine management device 50 as a pulse signal. In the present embodiment, ten winning balls are output as one pulse signal to the gaming machine management device 50 via the external output connector 18.
[0046]
In this signal transmission process (S45), first, it is confirmed whether or not the value of the management counter 13d has been updated to “20” or more (S61). If the value of the management counter 13d is updated to “20” or more as a result of the confirmation (S61: Yes), a two-pulse signal is output to the gaming machine management device 50 via the external output connector 18 (S62). "20" is subtracted from the value of the management counter 13d (S63), and this signal transmission process is terminated.
[0047]
On the other hand, if the value of the management counter 13d has not been updated to “20” or more in the processing of S61 (S61: No), it is next checked whether the value of the management counter 13d has been updated to “10” or more. (S64). As a result of the confirmation, if the value of the management counter 13d is updated to “10” or more (S64: Yes), a one-pulse signal is output to the gaming machine management device 50 via the external output connector 18 (S65). The value of the management counter 13d is decremented by “10” (S66), and this signal transmission process is terminated. In the process of S64, when the value of the management counter is not updated to “10” or more (S64: No), this signal transmission process is terminated.
[0048]
Conventionally, in the pachinko machine P with a backup function, the prize ball payout quantity information output from the pachinko machine P to the gaming machine management device 50 is transmitted from the main control board C to the payout control board H, After the payout control board H has executed a predetermined number of payout balls based on the prize ball command, the main control board C or the payout control board H has output prize ball payout number information to the gaming machine management device 50. It was. The gaming machine management device 50 counts how many prize balls are paid out from the pachinko machine P in a predetermined time (for example, 1 hour), and the manager of the gaming hall determines the pachinko machine based on the counting result. The setting of P was changed.
[0049]
Here, the pachinko machine P having a backup function is paid out even if the payout of the prize ball is delayed for some reason (for example, the ball is clogged, the lower plate is full, or the ball tank is full). Since a prize ball to be recorded is stored (for example, a prize ball for one hour or a prize ball for 1000 balls), the prize ball command is stored in accordance with the stored prize ball command. It was possible to pay out the prize balls at once.
[0050]
However, in such a case, the gaming machine management device 50 counts the number of prize balls to be paid out by the payout control board H. Therefore, the information on the number of prize balls to be paid out in the gaming machine management apparatus 50 is the main control board. The prize ball command is output to the gaming machine management device 50 at a timing different from the timing at which the prize ball command is transmitted from C. Therefore, the number of prize balls is counted at an inappropriate timing for the gaming machine management device 50.
[0051]
Accordingly, the payout number information output from the pachinko machine P to the gaming machine management device 50 is output to the gaming machine management device 50 at the timing when a prize ball command is transmitted from the main control board C to the payout control board H. By this, the gaming machine management device 50 can be made to collect accurate and appropriate payout amount information.
[0052]
After completion of the signal transmission process, the process returns to the prize ball process of FIG. 5, and the process of S46 is executed. In the process of S46, the value of the first and subsequent prize ball buffers 13a is shifted one byte at a time to the smaller address side (S46), the value of the prize ball buffer 13a is updated, and the transmitted 0th prize ball buffer The value of 13a is erased, and “1” is subtracted from the value of the prize ball pointer 13b (S47). In the process of S41, if the value of the prize ball pointer 13b is “0” (S41: Yes), the data of the number of prize balls to be paid out is not stored in the prize ball buffer 13a. Each process is skipped, the prize ball command transmission process (S40) is terminated, and the process proceeds to a prize ball detection process of S50.
[0053]
In the prize ball detection process (S50), it is first determined whether or not the prize ball count switch 25 has detected a ball (S51). When the winning ball count switch 25 detects a ball (S51: Yes), it means that one winning ball has been paid out, so the value of the remaining winning ball counter 13c is confirmed (S52), and the value is If it is not “0” (S52: No), “1” is subtracted from the value of the remaining winning ball counter 13c corresponding to the paid-out winning ball (S53). On the other hand, if the winning ball count switch 25 has not detected a ball (S51: No), the winning ball has not been paid out, and the remaining award ball even if the ON of the winning ball count switch 25 is detected. If the value of the number counter 13a is “0” (S51: Yes, S52: Yes), the value of the remaining prize ball number counter 13c cannot be subtracted, so the process of S53 is skipped and a prize ball detection process is performed. (S50) is terminated. Thereby, the prize ball process shown in FIG. 5 is completed.
[0054]
Next, with reference to FIG. 7, a signal reception process performed by the gaming machine management device 50 will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of signal reception processing. By performing this signal reception process, the gaming machine management device 50 receives a pulse signal indicating the number of prize balls output from the main control board C, and awards the management memory 54a of the hard disk 54 in accordance with the pulse signal. The number of balls is added.
[0055]
In the signal reception process, first, it is confirmed whether or not one pulse signal is received from the main control board C (S71). If one pulse signal has been received from the main control board C (S71: Yes), 10 prize balls are paid out by the pachinko machine P, so the number of prize balls “10” is added to the management memory 54a. In step S72, the signal reception process ends. On the other hand, if one pulse signal is not received from the main control board C in the process of S71 (S71: No), the process of S72 is skipped and the signal reception process is terminated.
[0056]
As described above, according to the pachinko machine P of the present embodiment, the number-of-payout information of the prize balls output from the pachinko machine P to the gaming machine management device 50 is awarded to the payout control board H from the main control board C. It is output to the gaming machine management device 50 at the timing of transmitting the command. Therefore, since the game information performed by the pachinko machine can be output to the gaming machine management device 50 accurately, the gaming machine management device 50 can grasp the accurate gaming information of the pachinko machine.
[0057]
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment described above, the main control board C is connected to the payout control board H via the buffers (inverter gates) 16 and 36 and the signal line 17 whose inputs and outputs are fixed. Therefore, transmission / reception of each command such as a prize ball command between the main control board C and the payout control board H is performed in only one direction from the main control board C to the payout control board H. It could not be performed on the main control board C.
[0058]
On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the connection between the main control board C and the payout control board H is constituted by a plurality of signal lines 17a without using a buffer (inverter gate) or the like, and the main control board C and the payout control. It is possible to send and receive commands and the like of the substrate H in both directions. Accordingly, since a command can be transmitted from the payout control board H to the main control board C, the payout control board H transmits a reception completion command based on the prize ball command received from the main control board C to the main control board C. can do. Accordingly, the main control board C can recognize that the winning ball command has been normally received by the payout control board H by receiving the reception completion command from the payout control board H.
In the description of the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.
[0059]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine. The main control board C is connected to the payout control board H via the signal line 17a, and the main control board C and the payout control board H are configured to be capable of bidirectional communication. The signal line 17a that connects the main control board C and the payout control board H is connected by eight data lines and one strobe line, and when the data on the strobe line becomes active, eight signal lines 17a are connected. Data output on the data line is transmitted from the main control board C to the payout control board H as a command.
[0060]
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of feedback processing performed on the payout control board. When the payout control board H receives a prize ball command from the main control board C, it generates an interrupt each time and performs this feedback processing. This feedback process is a process of transmitting to the main control board C a reception completion command indicating that the payout control board H has received the prize ball command normally. The footback processing program is stored in the ROM area 32 of the payout control board H.
[0061]
In the feedback process, first, it is confirmed whether or not a prize ball command is received from the main control board C (S81). As a result of the confirmation, if a prize ball command is received from the main control board C (S81: Yes), a reception completion command indicating that the prize ball command has been received is transmitted to the main control board C (S82). End the feedback process. On the other hand, if no prize ball command is received from the main control board C in the process of S81 (S81: No), this feedback process is terminated.
[0062]
As described above, according to the pachinko machine P of the second embodiment, the payout control board is configured such that commands and the like of the main control board C and the payout control board H can be transmitted and received bidirectionally. Since the command can be transmitted from H to the main control board C, when the payout control board H receives the prize ball command received from the main control board C, it indicates that the prize ball command has been received normally. A reception completion command can be transmitted to the main control board C. Therefore, the main control board C can recognize that the winning ball command has been normally received by the payout control board H by receiving the reception completion command from the payout control board H. Therefore, the main control board C outputs a signal indicating the number of prize balls to the gaming machine management device 50 after receiving the reception completion command from the payout control board H (or at the timing of reception), so that the gaming machine It is possible to cause the management device 50 to grasp accurate game information.
[0063]
The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be easily made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It can be guessed.
[0064]
For example, in the first embodiment, at the timing when the main control board C transmits a prize ball command to the payout control board H, the main control board C sends the prize ball number data to the gaming machine management device 50 via the external output connector 18. The signal was output. Instead, at the timing when the payout control board H receives the prize ball command transmitted from the main control board C, the payout control board H sends a signal of winning ball number data to the gaming machine management device 50 via the external output connector 18. May be output. In this case, at the timing when the payout control board H receives the prize ball command from the main control board C, the payout control board H outputs the prize ball number data paid out by the prize ball command to the gaming machine management device 50. Therefore, the gaming machine management device 50 can recognize the number of prize balls equivalent to the number of prize balls to be paid out by the payout control board H.
[0065]
Also, at the timing when the payout control board H receives the prize ball command from the main control board C, the prize ball number data is output to the gaming machine management device 50, and the main control board C sends the prize ball command to the payout control board H. You may comprise so that prize ball number data may be output to the game machine management apparatus 50 at the timing which transmits. As a result, the gaming machine management device 50 can compare the winning ball number data output from the payout control board H and the winning ball number data output from the main control board C, so that the main control board C performs payout control. It is possible to recognize whether or not data corruption or omission due to the influence of noise or the like has occurred in the prize ball command output to the substrate H.
[0066]
Further, in the present embodiment, the prize ball number data signal is output to the gaming machine management device 50 at the timing when the main control board C transmits the prize ball payout quantity data to the payout control board H. Instead, a data signal corresponding to the command may be output to the gaming machine management device 50 at a timing when the main control board transmits a command other than the winning ball number data to each control board.
[0067]
In addition, the number-of-payout information of the winning balls is output from the main control board C or the payout control board H to the gaming machine management device 50 at the timing when the balls win the plurality of winning holes 2, the symbol operating holes 4 or the specific winning holes 5. You may comprise.
[0068]
You may implement this invention in the pachinko machine etc. of a different type from the said Example. For example, once a big hit, a pachinko machine that raises the expected value of the big hit until a big hit state occurs (for example, two times or three times) including that (for example, a two-time right item, a three-time right item) May also be implemented. Moreover, after the jackpot symbol is displayed, it may be implemented as a pachinko machine that enters a special game state under the condition that a ball is awarded in a predetermined area. Further, in addition to the pachinko machine, various game machines such as an alepacchi, a sparrow ball, a game machine in which a so-called pachinko machine and a slot machine are fused may be used.
[0069]
In the slot machine, for example, a symbol is changed by operating a control lever in a state where a symbol effective line is determined by inserting coins, and a symbol is stopped and confirmed by operating a stop button. Is. Accordingly, the basic concept of the slot machine is that “a variable display means for confirming and displaying a symbol after a symbol string composed of a plurality of symbols is displayed in a variable manner, and the symbol resulting from the operation of the starting operation means (for example, an operating lever). The change of the symbol is stopped due to the operation of the stop operation means (for example, the stop button) or after a predetermined time has elapsed, and the fixed symbol at the time of the stop is a specific symbol Is a slot machine provided with special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player. In this case, the game medium is typically a coin, a medal or the like.
[0070]
In addition, as a specific example of a gaming machine in which a pachinko machine and a slot machine are fused, a variable display means for displaying a fixed symbol after displaying a variable symbol row consisting of a plurality of symbols is provided, and a handle for launching a ball is provided. What is not provided. In this case, after throwing a predetermined amount of spheres based on a predetermined operation (button operation), for example, the change of the symbol is started due to the operation of the operation lever, for example, due to the operation of the stop button, or With the passage of time, the fluctuation of the symbol is stopped, and a jackpot state advantageous to the player is generated on the condition that the confirmed symbol at the time of stoppage is a so-called jackpot symbol. A lot of balls are paid out.
[0071]
The modification of this invention is shown below. A gaming machine comprising: main control means for controlling a game; and payout control means for paying out game media having a predetermined value based on a payout instruction output from the main control means. The gaming machine 1 is characterized in that when it receives a payout instruction from the main control means, it outputs the payout number information of game media to be paid out by the payout instruction to the outside. When the payout control means receives the payout instruction from the main control means, it outputs the payout number information of the game media to be paid out according to the payout instruction to the outside. Accordingly, since the number of game media paid out can be output to the outside equivalent to the number of game media to be paid out by the payout control means, the content of the control performed by the gaming machine can be output to the outside appropriately. .
[0072]
2. A gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the main control means outputs the number-of-payout information of game media to be paid out according to the payout instruction to the outside. The payout number information is output from the payout control means to the outside, and the payout number information is output from the main control means to the outside (for example, a gaming machine management device). Therefore, in the gaming machine management device, the payout number information output from the payout control means and the payout number information output from the main control means can be compared, so that the main control means outputs the payout instruction output to the payout control means. It is possible to recognize whether or not data is garbled or missing due to the influence of noise or the like.
[0073]
In the gaming machine 1 or 2, the main control means outputs the payout number information of the gaming media to the outside when outputting a payout instruction to the payout control means. The case where the payout number information is output from the main control means to the outside and the case where the payout number information is output from the payout control means to the outside can be made at substantially the same timing, so that the game media can be transferred to the outside (for example, the gaming machine management device). Management of payout quantity information can be performed reliably. Note that the case where the main control means outputs game medium payout number information to the outside and the case where the main control means outputs a game medium payout instruction to the payout control means may be mixed. For example, the main control means may output game medium payout number information to the outside before outputting a payout instruction to the payout control means, or the main control means outputs a game medium payout instruction to the payout control means. The game medium payout number information may be output to the outside later.
[0074]
A game board on which a game is played, a plurality of winning holes provided in the gaming board, a detecting means provided in the winning hole for detecting a game medium won in the winning hole, and a main control for controlling the game And the main control means outputs the number-of-payout information of the game medium corresponding to the detected game medium to the outside when the detection means detects the game medium. A gaming machine 4. When a game medium wins a winning opening (timing), game medium payout number information can be output from the main control means to the outside. Therefore, accurate game information can be grasped in an external device such as a gaming machine management device.
[0075]
A game board on which a game is played, a plurality of winning holes provided in the gaming board, a detecting means provided in the winning hole for detecting a game medium won in the winning hole, and a main control for controlling the game And a payout control means for paying out game media having a predetermined value based on a payout instruction output from the main control means, wherein the detection means detects the game media. A payout instruction according to the detected game medium is output to the payout control means, and the payout control means receives the payout instruction from the main control means in response to the payout instruction. The gaming machine 5 is characterized in that information on the number of paid-out game media is output to the outside. When the game medium wins the winning opening (timing), the payout number information of the game medium can be output from the payout control means to the outside via the main control means. Therefore, accurate game information can be grasped in an external device such as a gaming machine management device.
[0076]
A gaming machine comprising: main control means for controlling a game; and payout control means for paying out game media having a predetermined value based on a payout instruction output from the main control means. When a game medium payout instruction is received from the main control means, a reception completion instruction indicating that the payout instruction has been normally received is output to the main control means, and the main control means includes the payout control. The gaming machine 6 is characterized in that when the reception completion instruction is received from the means, the payout number information of game media to be paid out according to the payout instruction is output to the outside. Since it is possible to output signals from the payout control means to the main control means by making it possible to bidirectionally input and output signals etc. of the main control means and the payout control means, the payout control means When a game medium payout instruction is received from the main control means, a reception completion instruction indicating that the payout instruction has been normally received can be output to the main control means. Therefore, the main control means can recognize that the payout control means has received the game medium payout instruction normally by receiving the reception completion instruction from the payout control means. Accordingly, the main control means outputs the signal indicating the payout number information of the game medium to the outside (for example, the gaming machine management device) after receiving the reception completion instruction (or when receiving the reception completion instruction). The means and the gaming machine management apparatus can accurately recognize the payout number information of the game media actually paid out by the payout control means.
[0077]
The gaming machine according to claim 1 or any one of the gaming machines 1 to 6, wherein the gaming medium is a prize ball, and the main control means and the payout control means include storage means for storing a prize ball payout instruction; Backup means for holding the contents of the storage means even after the power is turned off, and paying out a prize ball based on a prize ball payout instruction of the storage means backed up by the backup means when the power is turned on. A gaming machine 7 characterized by being. Conventionally, in a gaming machine having a backup function by a backup means, information on the number of prize balls to be output from the gaming machine to the outside (for example, a gaming machine management device) is paid out from the main control means to the payout control means. After the instruction is output and the payout control means executes a predetermined number of payout of the prize balls based on the payout instruction, the main control means or the payout control means outputs the payout number information of the prize balls to the outside. The gaming machine management device counts how many prize balls are paid out from the gaming machine in a predetermined time (for example, 1 hour), and the game hall manager sets the gaming machine based on the counting result. Had changed. Here, the gaming machine equipped with the backup means is paid out even if the payout of the prize ball is delayed for some reason (for example, the ball is clogged, the lower plate is full, or the ball tank is out of ball). Since the winning ball is stored (for example, 1 hour winning ball or 1000 winning balls), the payout instruction is stored, and the stored payball payout instruction is paid out. It was possible to pay out the winning balls at once. However, in such a case, the gaming machine management device counts the number of prize balls that have been paid out from the payout control means. It is output to the gaming machine management device at a timing different from the timing at which the payout instruction is output. Therefore, the gaming machine management device counts the number of prize balls at an inappropriate timing and cannot accurately grasp the control content of the game. Therefore, the number of award balls to be output from the gaming machine to the gaming machine management device, the timing when the payout control means receives the payout instruction from the main control means, or the main control means completes payout from the payout control means. By outputting the instruction to the gaming machine management device at the timing of receiving the instruction, it is possible to accurately grasp the content of control performed by the external device such as the gaming machine management device on the gaming machine.
[0078]
8. The gaming machine 8 according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is a pachinko gaming machine. Above all, the basic configuration of a pachinko gaming machine is provided with an operation handle, and a ball is launched into a predetermined game area according to the operation of the operation handle, and the ball is placed in an operation port disposed at a predetermined position in the game area. As a necessary condition for winning a prize (or passing through an operating port), the identification information that is variably displayed on the display device is confirmed and stopped after a predetermined time. In addition, when a special gaming state occurs, a variable winning device (specific winning opening) disposed at a predetermined position in the gaming area is opened in a predetermined manner so that a ball can be won, and a value corresponding to the number of winnings is obtained. Examples include those to which values (including data written on magnetic cards as well as premium balls) are given.
[0079]
8. The gaming machine 9 according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is a slot machine. Above all, the basic configuration of the slot machine is “equipped with variable display means for confirming and displaying the identification information after dynamically displaying an identification information string composed of a plurality of identification information, and for operating the starting operation means (for example, an operation lever). Due to or after a predetermined time has passed, the dynamic display of the identification information is stopped, and the special gaming state advantageous to the player is required on the condition that the fixed identification information at the time of the stop is the specific identification information. A gaming machine having special gaming state generating means for generating In this case, examples of the game media include coins and medals.
[0080]
The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is a fusion of a pachinko gaming machine and a slot machine. Among them, the basic configuration of the merged gaming machine includes “a variable display means for confirming and displaying the identification information after dynamically displaying an identification information string composed of a plurality of identification information, and a starting operation means (for example, an operation lever). The dynamic display of the identification information is started due to the operation of, and the dynamic display of the identification information is stopped due to the operation of the operation means for stop (for example, the stop button) or when a predetermined time elapses. And a special game state generating means for generating a special game state advantageous to the player on the condition that the confirmed identification information at the time of stoppage is specific identification information, and using a ball as a game medium, A gaming machine is configured so that a predetermined number of balls are required at the start of dynamic display of identification information, and many balls are paid out when a special gaming state occurs.
[0081]
【The invention's effect】
According to the gaming machine of the present invention, the main control means is configured such that when the switch detects a gaming medium, , Corresponding to the number of prize balls based on the winning of the game media The payout instruction is output to the payout control means. Corresponding to the number of prize balls When the payout instruction is output to the payout control means, the payout instruction is issued. Corresponding to the number of prize balls The game medium payout number information is output to the outside of the gaming machine. Also, the payout control means Corresponding to the number of prize balls When a payout instruction is received, payout is made according to the received payout instruction separately from the payout number information output to the outside of the gaming machine by the main control means. Corresponding to the number of prize balls The game medium payout number information is output to the outside of the gaming machine. Therefore, the payout instruction from the main control means Therefore To be paid out Corresponding to the number of prize balls It is possible to output game medium payout number information to the outside at an appropriate timing. Therefore, outside By an external device such as a gaming machine management device provided There is an effect that accurate game information of the gaming machine can be grasped.
[0082]
Moreover, according to the gaming machine of the present invention, main Control means Corresponding to the number of prize balls It was output when outputting the withdrawal instruction Game media corresponding to the number of winning balls Payout quantity information and its Corresponding to the number of prize balls Output when the payout control means receives a payout instruction Game media corresponding to the number of winning balls With the number of items to be paid out By an external device such as a gaming machine management device Since the comparison is possible, there is an effect that it is possible to recognize whether or not data garbled or missing due to the influence of noise or the like has occurred in the payout instruction output from the main control means to the payout control means.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine that is an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a pachinko machine and a gaming machine management device.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an NMI interrupt process executed on the main control board.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of start-up processing executed on the main control board.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a prize ball process executed by a main control board.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a signal transmission process executed in a prize ball process of the main control board.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of signal reception processing executed by the gaming machine management device.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the pachinko machine and gaming machine management device of the second embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of feedback processing executed by the payout control board of the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
50 gaming machine management device (external)
C Main control board (Main control means)
H Dispensing control board (dispensing control means)
P Pachinko machine (game machine)

Claims (2)

A winning slot for winning a game medium, a switch for detecting a gaming medium winning in the winning slot, a main control means for controlling the game while the switch is connected, and a payout instruction output from the main control means In a gaming machine comprising payout control means for paying out a game medium having a predetermined value based on
The main control means outputs a payout instruction corresponding to the number of winning balls based on winning of the game medium to the payout control means when it is detected by the switch that a game medium has won at the winning opening, When outputting a payout instruction corresponding to the number of winning balls, the game medium payout number information corresponding to the number of winning balls paid out by the payout instruction is output to the outside of the gaming machine,
When the payout control means receives a payout instruction corresponding to the number of prize balls from the main control means, a game corresponding to the number of prize balls paid out according to the received payout instruction separately from the output of the payout number information A gaming machine that outputs information on the number of paid-out media to the outside of a gaming machine. A storage means for storing a payout number of game media to be paid out, and a backup means for holding the contents of the storage means even after the power is turned off, based on the contents of the storage means held by the backup means; gaming machine of claim 1 Symbol mounting, characterized in that the power Nyutoki those paying out game media Te.

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